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Chapter 11 |
| 1 | Now faith is
the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. |
| 2 |
For by it the elders obtained a good report. |
|
3 | Through faith we
understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which
are seen were not made of things which do appear. |
| 4 | By faith Abel
offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained
witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being
dead yet speaketh. |
| 5 | By faith Enoch was translated that he should
not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before
his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. |
| 6 | But
without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must
believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek
him. |
| 7 |
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet,
moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he
condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by
faith. |
| 8 |
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place
which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not
knowing whither he went. |
| 9 | By faith he sojourned in the land of promise,
as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the
heirs with him of the same promise: |
| 10 | For he looked for a city
which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. |
| 11 | Through
faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered
of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had
promised. |
| 12
| Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as
dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by
the sea shore innumerable. |
|
13 | These all died in faith, not having
received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of
them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on
the earth. |
| 14
| For they that say such things declare plainly that they
seek a country. |
|
15 | And truly, if they had been mindful of that country
from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have
returned. |
| 16
| But now they desire a better country, that is, an
heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath
prepared for them a city. |
|
17 | By faith Abraham, when he was tried,
offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only
begotten son, |
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18 | Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed
be called: |
| 19
| Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from
the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. |
| 20 | By faith
Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. |
| 21 | By faith
Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped,
leaning upon the top of his staff. |
| 22 | By faith Joseph, when he
died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave
commandment concerning his bones. |
| 23 | By faith Moses, when he was
born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper
child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. |
| 24 | By faith
Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's
daughter; |
| 25
| Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of
God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; |
| 26 | Esteeming
the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had
respect unto the recompence of the reward. |
|
27 | By faith he forsook
Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is
invisible. |
| 28
| Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of
blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. |
| 29 | By
faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians
assaying to do were drowned. |
|
30 | By faith the walls of Jericho fell
down, after they were compassed about seven days. |
| 31 | By faith the
harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received
the spies with peace. |
| 32 | And what shall I more say? for the time
would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae;
of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: |
| 33 | Who through
faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the
mouths of lions. |
|
34 | Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of
the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to
flight the armies of the aliens. |
| 35 | Women received their dead
raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that
they might obtain a better resurrection: |
|
36 | And others had trial of
cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
|
| 37 | They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with
the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute,
afflicted, tormented; |
| 38 | (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they
wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the
earth. |
| 39
| And these all, having obtained a good report through
faith, received not the promise: |
| 40 | God having provided some
better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. |
